Medical Health Encyclopedia

Symptoms may develop immediately after injury or may occur gradually because of fluid accumulation around the spinal cord or swelling within the spinal cord itself. Spinal cord injury is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention to minimize the long-term effects.

A neurologic examination indicates the location of the injury, if it is not immediately evident. The reflexes may be abnormal or may be absent in affected areas of the body. There may be some recovery of reflexes after swelling has subsided. Muscle spasticity is common as a late effect of spinal cord injury.

• Spine X-rays may show fracture or damage to the bones of the spine.
• A CT scan or MRI of the spine may pinpoint the location and extent of spinal cord trauma and demonstrate any compressive lesions like blood clots (hematomas).
• Rarely a myelogram (an X-ray of the spine after injection of dye) may be necessary.
• Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) testing or magnetic stimulation may determine if signals can get through the spinal cord.